Improvement in clutches



R. W. JOHNSON.4 Clutch.

No'. 204,977. Patented Jun'e1s,187s,.

wnTNEssES- INVENTOR H' LA N @z/M' NJETERS, PHOTLLLITHOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON D C UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIGE.

ROIOE W. JOHNSON, OF FORT DODGE, IOWA.

- IMPROVEMENT IN CLUTCHES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 204,977, dated June 1Q, 1878; application filed December 7, 1877.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, ROICE W. JOHNSON, of Fort Dodge, in the county of Webster and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clutches; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

The object of this invention is to furnish a pivoted clutch which will be more substantial and sensitive, and act more promptly than devices of ordinary construction.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the casing which contains the clutch. Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-section. Fig. 3 is an inner side view of the clutch-plate, showing the pivoted cams or clutches; and Fig. 4 shows a larger number of cams, made smaller in size and pivoted near the rim.

a is the central wheel affixed rigidly to the axis al. It has aixed around its periphery a cross-plate or barrel, a2, against which the pivoted cams hereinafter described clutch in the operation of the machine.

b b are the revolving clutch-plates, constructed so that they will 't within the barrel a2 and against the sides of the central wheel a. On their outer side they have afxed the pinions bl b1 with which the rack d meshes, and on their inner sides they have formed a series of projections or stops, b2 b2, against which the pivoted clutches strike in the backward movement of the plate.

e is the clutch. It is pivoted to the inner side of the plate b, so that its outer end, which is curved to correspond with the curvation of the wheel a, as shown, will bear or clutch against the inner surface of the barrel a2 in the forward movement of the device. It is formed with a shoulder, e', arranged and adapted to catch on the shoulder or projection b2.

I employ a series of clutches, e, on each plate b, though one clutch alone will give a good effect. -The series are pivotedl around and on the inner side of the plate, as shown, and they are provided with springs f placed between them, as shown. When a single clutch is employed a suitable bearin g would have to be provided on the plate for that end of the spring not against the clutch. The clutch is. prevented from swinging too far over by the shoulder e engaging the stop or projection b2.

I prefer to employ a series of clutches, e, and connect them by intermediate springs f, as shown. Such an arrangement gives an almost continuous clutch, which acts simultaneously in all 'its parts, thereby giving the most accurate and substantial movements.

Ihe shoulder e on the clutch and the stop b2 on the plate b are provided so as to limit the movement of the clutch and enable me to employ a spring of less stiffness, thereby rendering the device more sensitive. Without the shoulder e and stop b2 a stronger spring would l:have to be employed to prevent the clutch o from being thrown over too far on its pivoted point.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-

1. In a clutch-wheel, the series of clutches e pivoted to the inner side of and arranged around the plate b, as shown, and braced one against another by the series of intermediate Ysprings f, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with the plate b, constructed with the stop or projection b2 and barrel a? on wheel a, of the pivoted clutch e, having the shoulder e and spring f, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ROIOE W. JOHNSON. Witnesses:

I. GARMOE, T. RUDESILL. 

